Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will reply followers’ questions all through the Ravens season. Coming off Baltimore’s 37-3 win in Week 9 in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks, loads of questions stay heading right into a Week 10 matchup in opposition to the Cleveland Browns.
Here’s Preston’s take:
(Editor’s word: Questions have been edited for size and readability.)
In the offseason, you referred to as for the Ravens to half methods with Lamar Jackson and take a protracted have a look at coach Harbaugh. Going into the Seattle sport, you picked the Seahawks to win. You appear to persistently fee the Ravens as no higher than one of many better-to-average groups. Yet, the Ravens at the moment are 7-2 as a workforce with none severe weaknesses. Would you care to reassess your opinion on the midseason mark? — Tom in Catonsville
Tom, I additionally picked the Ravens to beat Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, and so they misplaced each video games. It’s about consistency, not now, however in December and rolling into the playoffs. The Ravens haven’t hit that stage but persistently on offense, and the coaches and the gamers are conscious of an space by which they should enhance.
As for Jackson, he demanded to be traded and I might have obliged him. The Ravens would have, too, however 31 NFL groups backed off of him.
Can the Ravens win a Super Bowl this 12 months? Of course, however so can Philadelphia, San Francisco, Kansas City and even Cincinnati, which was struggling early within the season. It’s not the place the workforce is located in November, however how they’re enjoying heading into the postseason.
As for Harbaugh, I’ve had issues together with his clock administration selections and being too aggressive prior to now however wrote he was one of many top-five coaches within the NFL.
Here’s the underside line: There are three keys to profitable the championship. One is stability on either side of the ball. The workforce with the fewest weaknesses normally wins.
Secondly, the Ravens have to have the ability to put collectively three, 4 or perhaps 5 robust performances within the postseason to win a championship, one thing they haven’t completed because the 2012 season. That’s consistency.
Finally, Jackson has to step up his sport within the postseason. Quarterbacks carry groups within the playoffs, and he hasn’t been in a position to do this within the earlier 5 years. If he does and the Ravens win the Lombardi Trophy, nice for them.
What is your opinion on Marlon Humphrey’s efficiency to date this season? In previous years, he has been a standout on protection. Now, plainly he has been within the background. Is it as a result of there are such a lot of different standouts on protection? Thanks and sustain the nice work. — John Sinclair
Humphrey missed time within the preseason with an harm and it takes time to get again into enjoying form. I feel he is an effective cornerback, however not nice. I additionally assume he’s higher enjoying inside or over a slot or tight finish than enjoying on the surface. Humphrey isn’t that quick. That stated, he does have a presence within the locker room and is a pacesetter on the sector.
Overall, the cornerback place is an space by which the Ravens have an issue, however the move rush has made up for some weaknesses.
As for Humphrey, he’ll come round.
It was round this level within the 2019 season that the Ravens began not simply beating groups, however beating them down, and the present workforce is beginning to give off vibes of that workforce with the Big Truzz-type enjoyable/workforce spirit. Does the 2023 Ravens protection put them forward of 2019 for you? Thanks. — Paul Moss
Yes, certainly. Overall, I’ve not been impressed by the standard of play within the NFL. It has dropped off lately, and the league is beginning to look quite a bit just like the NBA in the course of the common season. But this protection has been dominant many of the season, and there are some similarities to 2000, when the Ravens had higher athletes and so they had been bodily harder. They punished groups.
This group has a better soccer IQ. When you speak and meet with these guys, it’s a reasonably brilliant bunch and you may see why coordinator Mike Macdonald can provide opposing offenses a number of seems to be.
Maybe a giant key was bringing in Chuck Smith because the workforce’s outdoors linebackers coach and pass-rushing specialist for this season. The lack of a move rush has harm the Ravens for a few years, nevertheless it’s now not an issue.
With Mahomes having to do every thing and not using a group of receivers that may’t get it completed within the passing sport and solely a good finish to depend upon (sounds acquainted), and a Bengals workforce with an injured beginning quarterback to start the season (moderately than later) that has had success prior to now two seasons following a plethora of accidents to a workforce that was not solely your rival within the division but additionally had the lead within the convention going into later levels of every of these seasons, how is it the Ravens are always criticized when these different two groups are praised once they win and given the advantage of the doubt each time they wrestle or are off their sport? — Greggory Washington
Let’s see, the Bengals have been to the AFC championship the final two years and have a fantastic younger quarterback in Joe Burrow, who appears to have them within the title hunt once more. The Chiefs have gained two of the previous 4 Super Bowl titles and Mahomes may find yourself being the perfect quarterback to ever play the sport.
Until additional discover, as former Ravens coach Brian Billick stated after profitable the title in 2000, “We are the champions until someone takes our crown.”
Many within the nationwide media have jumped on the Ravens bandwagon lately. It’s all a part of the hype, much like selling the NFL Most Valuable Player and the Heisman Trophy.
The 3-4 protection began in 1976. Since then, I feel Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen are the perfect inside linebacker tandem ever. I can’t think about the Ravens letting Queen stroll. Does that make Ronnie Stanley and Marlon Humphrey potential cap casualties? — Patrick Tracey
Between defensive sort out Justin Madubuike, Geno Stone and Patrick Queen, the Ravens have loads of robust selections to make. Both Madubuike and Queen could be sensible to hit the open market until Ravens normal supervisor Eric DeCosta presents them some sort of blockbuster deal.
There are some artistic methods he may be capable to signal Stone and both Queen or Madubuike, however the latest multiyear signings of Jackson and Smith make it actually arduous. There are home windows for lots of groups to win a Super Bowl, and the Ravens are in it proper now.
Looking on the upcoming three video games earlier than the bye, what are your emotions in regards to the Ravens going through the Browns, Bengals and Chargers? Can the Ravens preserve rolling? — Ed Helinski
No one on this league is unbeatable. It can be fascinating to see how Deshaun Watson performs in his second consecutive begin since coming back from a shoulder harm, and the Bengals are enjoying effectively, particularly on protection. There isn’t any concern of the Chargers as a result of they’re at all times delicate and have an odd coach in Brandon Staley.
But once more, it’s not the place you begin, however the place you end. The second half of the Ravens’ schedule is way harder than the primary.
Have a query for Mike Preston? Email sports [email protected] with “Ravens mailbag” within the topic line and it might be answered in The Baltimore Sun.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com